Set shoe



SET SHOE Filed Dec. 15, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 tilt m m m m Albert L. 12000 Hill/ arm V. Walter:

'March 2, 1937'. A. L. ROCO ET AL 2,072,430

SET SHOE Filed Dec. 13, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 1 4 1 q T 3 n EW I 4 Albert L. R000 mil/5am v. w INVENTORS I a: v ATTORNEY.

March 2, 1937, A. L. ROCO El AL SET SHOE Filed Dec. 15, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 5 R O T N E V m m m 0 w V L m 2 mm A 21.1: Jun-l ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SET SHOE to Leslie A. Layne,

Houston, Tex.

Application December 13, 1934, Serial No. 757,285

12 Glaims.

This invention relates generally to deep well apparatus, and specifically to set shoes.

Conventional well production apparatus includes a string of tubing or drill stem which is lowered through the well casing and has on its lower end a packer, a screen and a set shoe. The packer is connected above the screen and the set shoe is connected below the screen, and the set shoe has therein a back pressure valve to permit downward and prevent upward movement of fluid therethrough. Before the oil is permitted to pass into the screen and then upwardly through the string or casing, the well is washed to remove the slush or mud which has been used in drilling the well by pumping clear, water through a wash line which conveys the water downwardly through the screen into the set shoe,- from the bottom of which it emerges to pass upwardly about the screen. The wash line is then usually removed and the back pressure valve in the set shoe is designed to close to prevent upward movement of the oil through the set shoe, whereupon the oil passes into the screen and upwardly through the string or casing.

In the use of such conventional apparatus trouble has been caused by the failure of the back pressure valve to close the set shoe against upward movement of oil and foreign material therethrough, such failure being usually due to the presence of foreign matter between the valve and its seat. This is highly objectionable because all of the oil does not then pass through the screen, but instead a portion of it passes through the set shoe and in this manner carries sand into the screen to clog or block the well.

This invention has for its general object the provision of new and improved means to positively close the set shoe after such washing to prevent the trouble referred to.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a new and improved set shoe having fluid passageways of a combined area greater than the area of the wash line so that the velocity of the fluid passing downwardly through the passageways of the set shoe is less than the velocity of the fluid through the wash line, whereby the cutting action of the fluid pumped from the wash line through the shoe is substantially reduced.

Another object is to provide a new and improved 5 set shoe having stream-line fluid passageways directed substantially downwardly with no sudden turns, whereby abrasive action of. the fluid on the set shoe is substantially lessened.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved set shoe including closing means, the closure of which is effected by a downward movement whereby injury to the line incident to upward movement is eliminated.

Other objects will hereinafter appear.

The preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of one em bodiment of the set shoe; Fig. 2, a similar view of another embodiment; Fig. 3, a similar View of a third embodiment, the closing valve being shown in its inactive position; Fig. 4, a view of the embodiment shown by Fig. 3, the closing valve being shown in its active position; Figs. 5 and 6, horizontal sections on the lines 5-5 and 6-45 of Figs. 3 and i, respectively; Fig. 7, a view of the lower portion of production apparatus with the set shoe in place, the packer being contracted; and Fig. 8, a view of the apparatus shown by Fig. '7, the packer being expanded.

Referring first to Figs. 7 and 8 illustrating an apparatus with which the set shoe provided by this invention may be efficiently used, the well casing is indicated at I. It is customary to cement the lower end of this casing in a manner well known to those skilled in the art, afmr which the setting string islowered into place. The setting string includes the screen 2 which is positioned in the oil sands. To the lower end of the screen 2 may be connected the set shoe 3 provided by this invention, and to the upper end of. the screen may be connected the liner 4, packer 5 and pipe sections 7 and 8, the coupling on the top of the pipe section 8 being connected to the string of tubing or drill stem (not shown). Within the elements just described and extending downwardly from the pipe section 8 to the set shoe 3 is a tubular wash line 9, the upper portion ill of which is non-circular, preferably hexagonal, the lower portion of which (not shown) is also noncircular to snugly fit the portion H of the set shoe (Figs. 1 to 4 and. 5) for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. The particular construc tion of this pipe and its driving arrangement forms no part of the present invention, but is set forth in the copencling application of Harold 0. Block Serial No. 36,865, filed August 19, 1935.

After the casing I has been cemented in the well, and an opening in the cement shoe drilled in a manner well known to those skilled in the art, the assembly, which includes screen 2, set shoe 3, liner 4, packer 5, pipe sections 1 and 8 and wash line 9, is lowered through the casing i into the position shown by Fig. 7 by means of the string of drill stem or tubing connected to th pipe section 8. Clear water is then pumped down through the string and through the wash line 9 and finally through the set shoe 3, emerging from the bottom of the latter in a manner hereinafter described, and moving upwardly about the set shoe 3, screen 2, liner 4, and then upwardly in the space between the casing and other parts of the apparatus just described to the surface of the earth. This operation is known as a washing operation.

Now after the washing operation has been completed, the setting string is rotated to effect the expansion of the packer 5 from the position shown by Fig. 7 to the position shown by Fig. 8 to seal the space between the assembly and the casing I to prevent upward movement of oil therethrough. The expansion of the packer 5 is effected by the mechanism illustrated which does not per se constitute the present invention. being illustrated by the patent to Layne, et al, No. 1,870,779, dated August 9, 1932. This connection of the parts at the point indicated by the letter B permits the upward removal through the casing I by means of the setting string of all of the parts above the pipe section I, together with the wash line 9.

Now conventional apparatus includes a back pressure valve in the set shoe corresponding to the set shoe 3 to prevent the upward movement of the oil through the set shoe 3, and, therefore, to effect the movement of such oil through the screen 2 and thence upwardly through liner 4, packer 5, pipe section I into casing I, through which it passes upwardly to the surface of the earth. Back pressure valves, such as that indicated by the numeral I2 in Fig. 1, cannot be relied upon to completely close the set shoe 3 against upward movement of oil therethrough. For example, if foreign matter becomes caught between the back pressure valve and its seat 23 it will prevent closure of said valve. This invention, as above stated, has for its object the provision of a new and improved set shoe which offers practically no resistance to the passage of the washing fluid downwardly therethrough, and which may be positively closed after the washing operation is completed to prevent pasage of oil or other natural fluid upwardly therethrough. And the preferred embodiments of this invention will now be described.

Referring first to the embodiment shown by Fig. 1, the set shoe is indicated at 3 and comprises an upper substantially cylindrical section I3 and a lower substantially semispherical section I4 connected together by the threads I5.

' The lower section I4 may be provided with a central opening I6 through which the washing fluid may emerge, and suitable flanges H to hold the set shoe against rotary movement in the well. Threaded at I8 in the lower section M of the set shoe 3 is a back pressure valve cage I9 for the back pressure valve I2, the stem of the latter being indicated at and having a cap 2I thereon, between which and the cage I9 is interposed the compression spring 22 to yieldably hold the a back pressure valve closed against its seat 23.

Within the upper section I3 of the set shoe 3 is provided a substantially conical wash valve 24 connected by circumferentially spaced supports 25 depending from the wash valve actuating member or sleeve 26, the latter being threaded in the ring 21, which is in turn threaded in the upper section I3 of the set shoe 3, the set shoe 3 being connected by the threads 28 to the screen 2. The valve bushing has a flared upper end 29 to form a seat for the wash line and a non-circular portion I I for the reception of the non-circular portion of the wash line whereby the bushing 26 may be rotated by the wash line to effect the downward movement of the wash valve 24 upon its seat which comprises a ring threaded at 5| in the lower section I3.

Referring now to Figs. 1, '7 and 8, the set shoe may be used as follows:

The set shoe having been connected to the screen 2 by the threads 28 and the wash valve being in the position shown by Fig. 1, the assembly, which includes the set shoe 3, screen 2, liner 4, packer 5, pipe sections 1 and 8 and wash line 9, is lowered by means of the string connected at 28 (not shown) into the well in the position shown by Fig. 7. Water is then pumped downwardly through the wash line 9. This water enters the bushing 26 and passes downwardly about the conical wash valve 25, through the passageways provided by the spaced supports 25, through the a closing valve seat 50, opening the back pressure valve against the resistance of spring 22, and finally emerging from the bottom opening I to pass upwardly about the set shoe and screen, and through the casing I to the surface of the earth. The combined area of the stream-line fluid passages formed by the conical wash valve 24 and its supports 25, free from sudden turns, is made greater than the area of the wash line 9, so that the velocity of the fluid passing downwardly through the set shoe is. reduced, and objectionable abrasive action of the fluid on the set shoe practically eliminated.

Now after the washing operation is completed,

the initial rotation of the setting string may be utilized in a manner set forth in said Patent No. 1,870,779 to effect the expansion of the packer 5, and the disconnection thereof from the packer. Continued rotation of the setting string which is imparted to the wash line 9 through the noncircular portion I0 (Fig. 7) is effected by the construction disclosed in the application of Harold C. Block, Serial No. 36,865, filed August 19, 1935 for a wash line drive connection and from the wash line to the bushing 26 through the non-circular portion II (Fig. 1) effects the downward movement of the bushing 26 and of the wash valve 24 carried thereby so that the wash valve 24 is positively moved downwardly into sealing engagement with its seat 50 to close the 1 shoe 3 against upward movement of fluid therethrough. After that the setting string may be elevated to remove from the well all of the parts of the assembly above the pipe section "I, in-

cluding the wash line 9, whereupon the oil, or

other natural fluid in the well, unable to pass upwardly through the set shoe 3, enters the screen 2 and passes upwardly through the liner 4, packer 5 and pipe section I into the casing I and then upwardly through the latter to the surface of the earth.

It will be noted that the closure of the wash valve 24 is efiected by a downward movement whereby injury to the line incident to upward closing movement is eliminated.

Various advantages of the embodiment just described will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The embodiment shown by Fig. 2 is the same as that shown by Fig. 1 except that in Fig. 2 the rings 21 and 50 of Fig. 1 have been eliminated, the bushing 26!) of Fig. 2 being provided with an annular threaded flange 26I and the upper edge of the seat 23 of the back pressure valve I2 being so formed that it may be utilized as a seat for the wash valve 24. The construction shown by Fig. 2 is simpler than theconstruction shown by Fig. 1, but it involves cutting the threads 280 a greater longitudinal distance than the threads 28; and the wash valve 24 must have a recess 240 of a depth sufficient to receive the stem 20 of the back pressure valve l2. With respect tothe last difference, if a relatively long rod 20 is desired, the use of the seat 50 of Fig. 1 is preferable to the use of seat 23 of Fig. 2 for the wash valve 24 for the reason just stated.

The embodiments shown by Fig. 3 combine the constructions shown by Figs. 1 and 2, the back pressure valve seat 23 being used as a seat for the wash valve 24 as in Fig. 2, and the ring 27 being provided as in Fig. 1. The wash valve 24 is shown in its open position in Fig. 3, and in its closed position in Fig. 4.

We claim:

1. A set shoe having a body comprising upper and lower sections; connected together, said upper section having internal threads adjacent its upper end; a back pressure valve cage threaded in said lower section; a back pressure valve carried by said cage; a wash valve seat in said body above and adjacent said back pressure valve cage; a longitudinally movable hollow wash valve actuating element having threads engaging said threads of said upper section a substantial distance from the upper end thereof, said element having a flared upper end forming a wash pipe seat, a non-circular internal portion thereon forming a rotating device engaging means, circumferentially spaced depending wash valve supports; a substantially conical wash valve connected to said supports and forming therewith, when in its open position, downwardly directed stream-line fluid passageways for fluid pumped downwardly through the set shoe; said wash valve being movable downwardly upon its seat by rotation of relative to said body and serving, when so moved, to prevent the passage of fluid upwardly through the set shoe.

2. A set shoe having a body; a back pressure valve therein; a wash valve seat above said back pressure valve; a substantially conical wash valve in said body and movable above said seat; a hollow wash valve actuating member threaded in said body and having spaced depending supports connected to said wash valve; said member, wash valve and supports forming downwardly directed stream-line fluid passageways when said wash valve is in its upper, open position; said member when rotated serving to move said wash valve downwardly upon said seat.

3. A set shoe having a body; a back pressure valve therein; a wash valve seat; a substantially conical wash valve movable in said body above said seat; a hollow wash valve actuating member threaded in said body and having spaced depending supports connected to said wash valve; said member, wash valve and supports forming downwardly directed stream-line fluid passageways when said Wash valve is in its upper, open position; said member when rotated serving to move said wash valve downwardly upon its seat.

4. A set shoe having a body; a wash valve seat therein; a substantially conical wash valve movable above said seat; a hollow wash valve actuating member threaded in said body and having spaced depending supports connected to said wash valve; said member, wash valve and supports forming downwardly directed stream-line fluid passageways when said wash valve is in its upper, open position; said member when rotated serving to move said wash valve downwardly upon its seat.

5. A set shoe having a body; a wash valve therein; a hollow wash valve actuating member having spaced supports connected to said valve; said member, valve and supports forming downwardly directed stream-line fluid passageways when said valve is in its open position.

6. A set shoe body having a back pressure valve therein, a wash valve above said back pressure valve, means to positively move said wash valve downwardly into its closed position to prevent the passage of fluid through the set shoe, a ring in said body, and a seat thereon for each said back pressure valve and said wash valve.

7. A set shoe body having a back pressure valve therein, a wash valve, means to positively move said wash valve downwardly into its closed position to prevent the passage of fluid through the set shoe and a seat ring in said body to receive both said back pressure valve and said wash valve.

8. A set shoe having a substantially conical wash valve, means to positively move said valve into its closed position to prevent the passage of fluid therethrough, a back pressure valve disposed in said shoe, a stem on said back pressure valve extending upwardly and into said conical wash valve when said valves are in closed position.

9. In well apparatus of the character described, the combination with a wash pipe of a set shoe having a substantially conical valve and positive actuating means therefor, which when said valve is in its open position form downwardly directed stream-line fluid passageways of a combined area greater than the area of the wash pipe; said valve when in its closed position serving to prevent the passage of fluid through the set shoe.

10. A combination set shoe back pressure valve and wash valve assembly for wells comprising a body, a seat ring therein, a wash valve movable downwardly to seat on said ring, and a back pressure valve to move upwardly to seat on said ring.

11. In a set shoe assembly a wash valve and a back pressure valve, an upstanding stem on said back pressure valve, and said wash valve being of conical shape to fit over said stem whereby said valves may be positioned closely adjacent each other.

12. A wash valve member including a sleeve, a conical valve portion projecting into said sleeve to deflect the flow of fluid, support members connecting the base of said valve to said sleeve, and a threaded portion on said sleeve whereby said sleeve is movable upon rotation.

ALBERT L. ROCO. WILLIAM VERNON WALTERS. 

